Biblical Integration Jeremy M. Kimble, PhD Assistant Professor of Theological Studies Interim Director for the Center for Biblical Integration

The Center of Biblical Integration at Cedarville University promotes biblical integration throughout curriculum, teaching, and research for both the University and the evangelical community. The center strives to be a resource for integrative study, teaching, and service in drawing connections between a biblical and theological foundation, academic disciplines, and topics of life. The center also aids faculty members in their personal integration efforts in their classrooms, academic research, or professional field.

Importance of Theology John Frame has defined theology as “the application of God’s Word by persons to all areas of life.”

Importance of Theology With this definition in mind, if we are to apply Scripture correctly, we must – Interpret it correctly – Unpack the biblical storyline, noting how God’s plan unfolds, centered in Christ – Identify the main themes of the Bible

Importance of Theology Theology also inevitably involves theological construction and doctrinal formulation, grounded in biblical theology and done in light of historical theology, but which also involves interacting with all areas of life—history, science, psychology, ethics, and so on. In so doing, systematic theology leads to worldview formation as we seek to set the biblical-theological framework of Scripture over against all other worldviews and learn “to think God’s thoughts after him,” even in areas that the Bible does not directly address. In this important way, systematic theology presents a well thought out worldview, over against all of its competitors, as it seeks to apply truth to every domain of our existence.

Philosophy of Integration Academic Disciplines Virtue/Ethics Worldview Theology Bible

Bible: Storyline Kickoff and rebellion (creation, fall, flood) Instrument of blessing (Patriarchs) Nation redeemed and commissioned (Exodus, Sinai, and wilderness) Government in the land (conquest and kingdoms); Departure and return (exile and initial restoration); Overlap of the ages (Christ’s work and the church age); Mission accomplished (Christ’s return and kingdom consummation)

Bible: Framework God God is the main character of the Bible. Glory God is glorious and is displaying His glory to the universe. Kingdom God is establishing a kingdom. Covenant God is relating to His people through covenants. Christ The covenants all culminate in Jesus Christ.

Theology: Biblical-Theological Language Epistemology (God has revealed Himself, and we can truly know facts about Him and His creation [though not exhaustively]; general and special revelation) Scripture (inspiration, inerrancy, infallibility, authority, clarity, sufficiency) God (Trinity, incommunicable and communicable attributes) Man (made in God’s image, pinnacle of creation) Sin (any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature)

Theology: Biblical-Theological Language Christ (God-man, Son, second person of Trinity; perfect life, atoning death, resurrection, return) Salvation (calling, conversion (faith/repentance), justification, adoption, sanctification, glorification) Spirit (third person of Trinity; convicts of sin, glorifies Christ, indwells, empowers, gifts) Church (people of God, body of Christ, temple of the Spirit, universal and local, outpost of the kingdom of God, need to belong as member, ministry and mission) Last things (kingdom of God, already/not yet, Jesus’ return, eternal judgment and salvation)

Worldview A worldview is the interpretive lens through which we see all of life. It is a commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, expressed as a set of presuppositions which we hold about the basic constitution of reality. Other worldviews include atheism, secular humanism, deism, theism, pantheism, Islam, Hinduism, etc.

Worldview A worldview seeks to answer the following questions: – Who am I? – Why am I here? – What is my purpose? – What is wrong with the world? – What is the solution? – How do I determine what is right and wrong? – Where is this world going? – How will it all end?

Worldview The grid to answering these questions comes from the storyline and framework of Scripture, and the truths ascertained in theological inquiry.

Virtue/Ethics Character (virtue ethic; 2 Peter 1:3-11) Conduct (deontological ethic; Ex. 20:1-17; Eph. 4:17- 5:14; Col. 3:1-16) Goals (teleological ethic; 1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17) Discernment (wisdom, living a life in line with God’s purposes; Phil. 1:9-11; Eph. 5:15-17; Col. 1:9-10)

Scholarly Disciplines How do my Christian beliefs affect my approach to my academic discipline or professional field? Does the Bible address my discipline specifically? Do I teach my students to think/write/compose/act within my field or discipline as a believer? Am I pointing out to students things within our discipline that are not biblical and must be rejected? Received? Redeemed? Do I take a holistic approach to instructing my audience (students or peers), promoting character development (i.e. spiritual growth)? In what specific ways do you hope to bring glory to God in your work?

Scholarly Disciplines True biblical integration for a specific discipline requires biblical investigation and interpretation, as well as theological synthesis. It is the theology (drawn from rigorous biblical interpretation) that becomes the means for engaging all disciplines and fields. The scholar (or student) with a biblical-theological mindset can pursue and communicate wisdom in predominately “secular” academic fields. This pursuit and communication requires penetrating the citadel of contemporary “knowledge” and brings every thought captive in service to others and for the sake of God’s glory (cf. 2 Cor. 10:3-5).

Integration Paper Five main points of your paper: – The faculty member's Christian worldview (e.g., beliefs concerning God, creation, man, and epistemology). – The correlation between Scripture or scriptural principles and his or her discipline. – The faculty member's role in and commitment to Christian higher education. – The relationship between faith and practice as demonstrated in teaching philosophy and lifestyle. – The goals and objectives for communicating these beliefs in the classroom.

Integration Paper Content: it is a statement of personal worldview and biblical integration within one’s discipline. – BIP is not to be a generic statement about integration in general. – Clearly support your views on the five criteria spelled out in the FHB (label these five criteria, provide sub-headings as appropriate). – Application of a biblical worldview to a discipline may include examples of what can be affirmed, rejected, or redeemed, but does not have to include all three. – Scripture should not be quoted at length, but note the references throughout for support (objective is to write what you believe with Scriptural support rather than to quote verse after verse without getting to what you believe).

Integration Paper Format: resulting BIP should be of publishable quality in every aspect – Font: for text, use Times New Roman, Cambria (Body) or Arial, 12 point. Use same font and size throughout. – Margins: use 1-inch on both sides, top, and bottom. – Length: content pages (double-spaced). – Style guide: Chicago Manual or APA. – While the BIP is not a research paper, it needs to interact with current literature (use properly footnoted sources (not counting Scripture references). – Include a title page, and number all subsequent pages. BOTTOM LINE: use the BIP to clearly articulate your worldview and biblical application to your discipline. It will inform CU leaders as they consider your future at Cedarville.